Shillong: Home voting for voters over 80 years of age and persons with disabilities (PWDs) commenced for the adjourned 23-Sohiong (ST) assembly bye-elections on Friday.
Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor informed that 139 voters who are over 80 years of age and 54 PWDs had applied through Form 12 D to cast their respective votes through home voting.
Six candidates are in the fray for the Sohiong (ST) assembly elections, which include Synshar Lyngdoh Thabah of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Samlin Malngiang of the National People’s Party (NPP), Congress candidate Osborne Kharjana, BJP candidate Eric Kharbuki, Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Stoding Thabah, and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) candidate Sandondor Ryntathiang.
The election to the 23-Sohiong (ST) assembly seat, which is one of the 55 out of the total 60 reserved for the Scheduled Tribe in the Meghalaya legislative assembly, was adjourned just before the February 27 assembly elections due to the death on February 20 of one of the candidates, HDR Lyngdoh, a former minister and leader of the UDP.
Polling was held for 59 assembly constituencies on February 27, following which the NPP emerged victorious with 26 seats, followed by the UDP winning 11 seats, leading to the formation of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) 2.0 government, which also has as its constituents the BJP, HSPDP, and People’s Democratic Front (PDF) with two seats each, besides two independents.
General voting will take place on May 10, and counting of votes will take place on March 13. The result is also expected to be declared on the same day.
